Is caladium a good indoor plant?
Caring for Caladium If you do decide to bring a Caladium friend in your home, be prepared. They grow really nice outdoors but indoors I’ve found they can be sassy. Not Maidenhair-fern sassy but still picky about humidity and watering. Temperature: Caladium like hot, like Africa-hot, temperatures and lots of humidity. Caladium leaves turning yellow Problem: Yellowing leaves can signal overwatering or poor drainage. It can also mean your plant is already dying. Solution: Make sure your caladiums are planted in the right type of soil. Wait until the top 2-3 centimeters of soil dry out between waterings.Growing a caladium indoors is a treat for devoted houseplant parents. With its colorful leaves and indirect light needs, a caladium is a lovely indoor addition.Caladiums grow beautifully in containers and in landscapes that have well-drained soil. If you garden in heavy clay, you’ll want to grow your caladiums in containers or raised beds. Fill your patio pots, window boxes and hanging baskets with the low maintenance, all-season color that caladiums provide.Caladiums are known for their broad vibrant leaves, so when they start to crisp up or turn pale it can be concerning. Crispy and pale leaves usually occur when the plant is too dry, getting too much sun, not enough humidity, or is over-fertilized.
What is the lifespan of a caladium?
How long can caladium live? The plants are perennials, which means they can last season to season. However, from sprouting to dormancy, they are showy for about six months out of the year. Caladiums are tuber plants and can only be propagated by dividing the potato-like tuber in the soil. If you grow them this way they will never push out new stems and just be 1 leaf forever.Caladiums are perennial plants in warm climates (USDA hardiness zones 9-12) and will come back every year if the conditions are suitable.If grown in the ground, do a soil test to determine what additional nutrients the caladiums may require. For more information on soil testing, see HGIC 1652, Soil Testing. In the absence of a soil test, use a 12-6-6 fertilizer every six weeks.You could start to see foliage emerge from your caladium bulbs in as little as 3 weeks after planting if you start them in the warmer part of the season once the soil temperature rises above 65°F. When starting them earlier in the spring indoors, expect to see foliage in about 6-8 weeks, depending on the variety.
What is the secret to growing caladiums?
These plants thrive in moist, well-drained soil and are generally happier in partial shade. Remember the amount of sun/shade exposure may change the color of the leaf produced. Ideally, caladiums should be planted in a partially shaded area for best color. Caladium can be grown in water, but be sure to use non-chlorinated water and change the water once a week or when the water becomes discolored. It will also be necessary to feed them with a water-soluble fertilizer since they’ll not be getting nutrients from the soil.Did you know you can grow caladiums in water? Just uproot the plant and place it in a vase.Fertilise your caladium plants every week during their growing season with slow-release pellets or liquid fertiliser. It will help your plant grow at a faster rate. However, don’t fertilise your plant with a high dose to prevent any damage to your indoor plant.Caladiums can be propagated by dividing bulbs—sort of like cutting up a potato to plant. Each piece of tuber needs an eye. Unlike some other bulb plants, caladiums don’t spread or multiply.Caladiums don’t require pruning, but it can help the plant grow healthy and full. Trimming off dead or wilting leaves encourages new growth and keeps a consistent, vibrant look. It also improves air circulation, which keeps fungus at bay and allows more sunlight to reach the lower leaves.
Do caladiums like sun or shade?
Most caladiums thrive in partial shade and only need two to four hours of direct sunlight per day. Although some new cultivars have been bred to grow in direct sunlight, morning sun and then partial shade for the remainder of the day is ideal for most. Potted caladiums can be moved indoors in early fall and kept actively growing as a houseplant for a month or so until they will naturally enter a resting period. They will need bright light and humidity indoors to thrive.In Spring, once the leaves start to emerge, up your watering by keeping the soil evenly moist, and avoiding drying out. Make sure that your Caladium is also receiving good bright filtered light for large, lush foliage. Feeding every 2 weeks during their growing season to help substitute energy needs.They can help purify the air in your home, removing toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene. Caladiums are relatively low-maintenance plants, requiring only consistent moisture, partial to full shade, and occasional fertilization.Certain pests and diseases can distort caladium leaves. Insect pests like spider mites, aphids, and thrips pierce leaf tissues while feeding. Various fungal or bacterial leaf spots also cause distorted growth. Inspect plants regularly under leaves and along stems for signs of attackers.In Spring, once the leaves start to emerge, up your watering by keeping the soil evenly moist, and avoiding drying out. Make sure that your Caladium is also receiving good bright filtered light for large, lush foliage. Feeding every 2 weeks during their growing season to help substitute energy needs.
What are caladium plants good for?
Caladiums grow well in pots and planters, and are the perfect solution for brightening a shady porch or a covered deck. Window Boxes: Strap leaf caladiums grow beautifully in window boxes and hanging planters. Use them to wrap your home in colorful foliage all summer long. Caladiums like a spot that’s bright but not in direct sunlight, which could scorch those delicate leaves. Slightly moist soil is best. Check the soil weekly and water if the top two inches of soil feel dry.Caladiums are tuber plants and can only be propagated by dividing the potato-like tuber in the soil. If you grow them this way they will never push out new stems and just be 1 leaf forever.De-Eying Caladiums If you notice several dominant lumps on your bulbs, you can cut them out and get a plant that has several even shoots (fuller habit) popping out rather than 1 or two dominant leaves and some smaller.Certain pests and diseases can distort caladium leaves. Insect pests like spider mites, aphids, and thrips pierce leaf tissues while feeding. Various fungal or bacterial leaf spots also cause distorted growth. Inspect plants regularly under leaves and along stems for signs of attackers.
Where should I put caladiums in my house?
Like many other tropical plants, Caladiums don’t like when direct sunbeams hit their foliage because, in their natural habitat, they’re under the shade of a jungle canopy. Bright, indirect light will provide the best results, so a North or East-facing window is a great spot. Caladiums are tropical perennials that have almost unparalleled foliage and make showy houseplants. They can also be grown outdoors, but unless you live in zones 9 to 10, you should plan to grow them as annuals, or dig up the plants’ tubers at the end of the growing season and store them for winter.Caladiums thrive in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Avoid exposing them to direct sunlight, as it can scorch their leaves. They are well-suited for areas with filtered sunlight, such as under tall trees or on shaded patios. Caladiums prefer warm temperatures between 65°F and 85°F (18°C and 29°C).Can Caladiums Grow Indoors? Though caladium plants are traditionally found growing outdoors in mixed beds and borders, they can also thrive in containers. Caladiums grown as houseplants are especially attractive and offer lasting color that brightens indoor spaces.If grown in the ground, do a soil test to determine what additional nutrients the caladiums may require. For more information on soil testing, see HGIC 1652, Soil Testing. In the absence of a soil test, use a 12-6-6 fertilizer every six weeks.Potted caladiums can be moved indoors in early fall and kept actively growing as a houseplant for a month or so until they will naturally enter a resting period.